Ambitious school building plan approved

Midlothian is to embark on an ambitious school building and extension programme to tackle current and future capacity challenges and to ensure pupils are learning in world-class facilities.

Plans include a new primary for Easthouses

At the full council meeting on Tuesday, councillors approved 17 recommendations including plans to progress a new, two stream primary in Easthouses and a replacement for Lasswade Primary.

We want to deliver a world-class education

The cabinet member for education, Councillor Jim Muirhead said: “Midlothian has set out its ambition to deliver a world-class education for our children and young people. The Learning Estate Strategy gives the council clear direction in the short, medium and long term. "

17 recommendations are approved

The 17 recommendations approved for the short term, up to 2023 are to:

Build a three stream replacement Danderhall Primary School, as agreed by Council in February 2017, required for August 2020.

Build a new two stream primary school in Dalkeith with the capacity to extend to three stream, required for August 2019.

Build a new two stream primary in Easthouses to be located on the old Newbattle High School site, required for August 2019.

Bring the capacity of Newtongrange Primary School up to two stream, required for August 2021.

Expand Burnbrae Primary School to three stream by building additional capacity at the school campus on Rosewell Road, as approved by Council on 29 August 2017, planned for August 2019.

Enhance core facilities, such as toilets and changing facilities, at Lasswade High School to provide capacity for 1,600 pupils, required immediately.

Build a new primary school in Bonnyrigg on Hopefield Farm 2 housing development site (Hs12), required for 2022.

Build a three stream replacement Lasswade Primary School on a new site, required for 2023.

Extend Rosewell Primary School from single stream to a two stream primary school, required for 2022.

Progress the review of denominational school provision across Midlothian and bring a report back to Council early in 2018.

Further work will be done on the financial implications

Council agreed on the short term strategy and asked officers to do further work on the financial implications of the short term strategy so that these can be considered as part of the Council’s Capital Strategy and General Service Capital Plan report expected to be presented to Council in November 2017.

There will be another report in autumn 2018

Officers will continue to work on the medium term actions which are required from 2023 and will bring a further report on the medium term actions back to Council in the autumn of 2018.